The president and first lady recently hosted a White House event to highlight Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid. They will be heading to Copenhagen the end of this week to lobby Olympic officials in person.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - First Lady Michelle Obama vowed Monday to "take no prisoners" as she and her husband launch an unprecedented bid for Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.

"It's a battle - we're going to win - take no prisoners," Mrs. Obama said with a smile at a roundtable discussion with reporters in the White House State Dining Room.

Mrs. Obama compared the intense lobbying effort to the 2008 presidential campaign, noting that in the election campaign, a lot of voters made their decision in the final days. She said members of the International Olympic Committee may do the same.

"And our view is, we're not taking a chance," she said. "We're just not going to assume that the bids - that the decisions are made, and so that no matter what the outcome is, we'll feel as a country, as a team, that we've done everything that we can to bring it home."

soundoff(80 Responses)

Kevin

If I were the IOC, I would be looking directly at the violence in the city of Chicago and say no. Do you really want to put all of the visitors at risk of being killed by youths running wild in Chicago? Instead of the Obamas worrying about the Olympics, why don't they try and help their corrupt city get out fot he gutter. Arne Duncan, the secretary of education who obviously did a great job fixing schools, ie Crime and killing in Chicago schools shoulld maybe stay home also.

September 28, 2009 10:58 pm at 10:58 pm |

Will

Great, more of our tax money at work to pay for the Obama's to vacation around the world. Shouldn't they be worried about all the stuff going on here? So much for hope and change.

September 28, 2009 11:00 pm at 11:00 pm |

cgillette369

Obama is a clueless man. his wife is forcing him to run off to Denmark for some ueless games that nobody except for politicians.
If Obama knew his job he would understand that he has Afghan, Iraw, Iran, middle-east, Russia, China, Healthcare and everything else too handle,

rather than be michelles's boytoy. he's afraid she will out him.

September 28, 2009 11:04 pm at 11:04 pm |

Reasonable Observer

I like sports. I hope the 2016 Olympics are held in Chicago. I am glad our president is going to attempt to close the deal for Chicago instead of working on other less important issues such as Afghanistan, Iran, or unemployment.

September 28, 2009 11:13 pm at 11:13 pm |

liberalandlovinit

You go First Lady! I'm so proud that we have such a beautiful First Lady! Don't listen to any of the haters who say that this isn't as important as what's going on in Afghanistan and Iraq, or state of the national economy, or the healthcare debate. This IS important! We need our first family to look good, especially on the late night TV shows. I've never been more proud about being an American than I am now that we have such a photogenic first family!

September 28, 2009 11:14 pm at 11:14 pm |

mellow

So wait, the President is "shelving" the discussion to sending more trips, but they have plenty of time to lobby for the olympics in the president's home (the same one in which he couldn't control the murder rate and is now the most dangerous city in America)?

What the idiot poiliticians keep failing to say is the citizens of Chicago do not want the Olympics, only the politicians do. How much did Athens lose when they hosted the Olympics? $6 billion? Our state could not possibly absorb a loss, we are supposedly already over $11 billion in the garbage. The only Olympic host city to have ever made money was Los Angeles because all the venues already existed. This is nothing but a financial disaster for Chicago and that fool Daley already put the taxpayers on the hook.

September 28, 2009 11:21 pm at 11:21 pm |

wamo

I'm all for the olympics, and especially in Chicago, so hard hit, by the recessionl, BUT, why.... why open up all the national security risk that comes with hosting an international, multiday, numerous-visas-issued, event. We'll all be on HIGH ALERT for MONTHS. (and it's so close to CANADA!, what a risk!!!!!!!!) MOREOVER, can Ohare airport even handle this?

September 28, 2009 11:25 pm at 11:25 pm |

Kathy915

I heard that Chicago doesn't even want it there. They have NO MONEY but of course that is NO PROBLEM for Obama. Sounds like more money from us working class people to one city. Also I think it shows the total disrespect that Cold hearted Obama has for our trooops. They are risking their lives every minute while him and that mean spirited wife go on another vacation. If Bush had done this he would be impeached before he got back home. This man is EVIL to the Max.

September 28, 2009 11:33 pm at 11:33 pm |

katn

Go Michelle. This country is lucky to have such and warm and wonderful first lady to represent us.

September 28, 2009 11:33 pm at 11:33 pm |

John G

Waste of time
Waste of tax dollars
Waste of a presidency

September 28, 2009 11:36 pm at 11:36 pm |

Wise Latina

Michelle was going to present Chicago's case for the Olympics; major league fail. Barry, the self-styled messiah, must now try and rescue his own plan to have a world coronation at the end of his 2nd term. Problem is he isn't going to make it past 2012...

Time to eliminate all Chicago-style politicos.

September 28, 2009 11:36 pm at 11:36 pm |

steve weiler

Wouldn't we be better off if we could bring safety of our young people to Chicago? The Olympics would be nice but there are so many young people killing each other, so much crime, like the tragic death of an honor student that was fatally beaten by two different gangs. Why in the world would the IOC ever in consider bringing the Olympics to Chicago? We would be better of if Mrs Obama would "take no prisoners", on gang crime and the killing of incocent young adults. Please focus on real issues affecting our country, not flashy commercial adventures.

September 28, 2009 11:38 pm at 11:38 pm |

barb

The Obama's should care about all of the United States, as much as they do Chicago. He won't be happy until he ruins america, after he becomes a dictator , they can live in Chicago and lord it over all the little less imoportant people, better known as the middle class .

September 28, 2009 11:39 pm at 11:39 pm |

Gary

and meanwhile, the country goes to crap...

September 28, 2009 11:39 pm at 11:39 pm |

wagon

Who cares.

September 28, 2009 11:52 pm at 11:52 pm |

Jimmy

I wish Obama and his wife would take no prisoners when it came to terrorists overseas as well as when it comes to curbing the murders on the streets of his old city of Chicago instead of something as easy as lobbying for his city to get the Olympics. Way to go Obamas!!! Way to tackle the tough stuff.

On a side note I guess Obama is just trying to pay back his Chicago boys who helped get him into politics and into the White House. Obama degrades the presidency by being the first sitting president to go on a late night talk show, twice! And now is trying to use his "rockstar" status to rig the Olympics for the fat cats in Chicago. I guess he figures this will really help create more jobs in the US 7 years down the road.

September 28, 2009 11:55 pm at 11:55 pm |

Rick

Oh let's get excited about bringing the Olympics to Chicago in what??? 2016? Chicago might not be around then if her husband keeps wasting our money the way he is. I hate to tell you this Michelle but this country has bigger problems than brining the Olympics to the US, In case you have been in your ivory towers too long we have some of the highest unemployment rates in recent history, the largest deficet in history, and things are not looking any better. I would like to be the first to encourage and welcome you to reality.

September 29, 2009 12:00 am at 12:00 am |

Michael Collins

Yeah, Michelle...
Don't forget to tell them what you told us during the campaign...
"AMERICA IS A MEAN COUNTRY"
That sure got my vote...for McCain....
Michael

September 29, 2009 12:11 am at 12:11 am |

Helen, NY

First :Lady has no job, Barack Obama has no job. He does not know what it is to be President and moreover he does not know how to work hard in the White House.He is spending all tax-payers money for the czars who are working for him. Now they have a job to go to Denmark. Mr. President you are sickening. You stay in Oval office and try to bring the economy up, give back the stimulus money so our children can have a good living. It is absolutely not necessary to go to Denmark. We do not need Olympic Games here.

September 29, 2009 12:12 am at 12:12 am |

RNC = DNC = politics as usual

Yeah, this is way more important than explaining your current war philosophy or explaing your position today on healthcare.

But it is SOOOO cute. Maybe we will forget your troubles.

September 29, 2009 12:12 am at 12:12 am |

Nea

Some people is always trying to criticize this President no matter what he tries to do,Let me say this haters" NO" President Obama is no God We donot worship him he is not perfect only GOD is. And im glad he is not perfect because that makes him a human being, he said himself he will not be an perfect President none was, so stop saying we are worshipng him I ONLY WORSHIP 1 GOD AND HE IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD. But i do PRAY for President Obama because we are suppose to PRAY for all our leaders! Now if some of you would PRAY for him in a positive way and stop making hateful comments about him things will get better in time!

September 29, 2009 12:19 am at 12:19 am |

Jeff

I can accept the First Lady going to Copenhagen on behalf of Chicago, but I believe it inappropriate for the President to do so. Certainly, hosting the 2016 games here in the US would be a wonderful opportunity, but not if the price tag is the dignity of the Oval Office.